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Field Trip Information

The ForestSAT field trip to the Austin Cary Forest provides a hands-on, station-based learning experience designed to expose participants to key components of southern forest ecosystems and their management.

Participants will rotate through a series of interactive stations, each led by subject-matter experts:

• Learning Center (ACF Overview): Introduction to the Austin Cary Forest, including its history, mission, and role in research, education, and forest management.
• Forest Health: Exploration of forest condition, disturbance factors, and management strategies to maintain resilient ecosystems.
• Flux Tower: Overview of ongoing research measuring carbon, water, and energy exchange between forests and the atmosphere.
• Fire Management: Demonstration of prescribed fire practices and discussion of their importance in maintaining ecosystem health and reducing wildfire risk.
• Florida Ecology: Examination of ecological processes, species interactions, and environmental gradients shaping southern forest systems.
• Turpentine: Historical perspective on forest product utilization and its role in shaping regional forest landscapes.
• Florida Forest Service: Insights into forest management, conservation practices, and public land stewardship.
• RIEGL Remote Sensing (Lunch Session): Live demonstrations of advanced terrestrial and mobile laser scanning systems, highlighting LiDAR applications in forest structure characterization, biomass estimation, and ecosystem monitoring.

Each station is designed to provide a focused, engaging experience, combining short presentations with discussion and demonstration. Together, these stations offer a comprehensive overview of both traditional and cutting-edge approaches to forest science and management.